End of an era or the next step of a critical evolution?
Newsweek announced this morning that it is closing its print doors at the end of the year. This announcement is made just months before what would have marked the magazine's 80th anniversary.
On one hand, this announcement is an unquestionably big deal, one that signals what can only be the first of many because if Newsweek, one of the most established and well respected newsmagazines, does it why wouldn't anyone else? And a move like this helps to disqualify the oft-repeated head- in-the-sand claim that print journalism will continue on because there will always be a demand for it. At this point, that notion seems to simply be an unsupported one. All those people up in arms about the potential death of print journalism a few years ago? Where are they now? I can tell you this much: their numbers, not to mention their influence on the industry, are small.
And while some may be saddened by and/or nostalgic about this news, the depth of their emotions are likely to be begrudgingly overshadowed by the fact that Internet news and column-style journalism just makes too much sense. If anything should be online- the ultimate accelerator of easy communication and info sharing- isn't it the news? And isn't it global perspective and commentary? The foundation of journalism is firmly based in utilizing the available means of communication. To hold onto a model that is quickly becoming outdated is to become complacent and to lack innovation. For journalism to survive and thrive, it must move forward.
Besides, I can't remember the last time I waited to read what Andrew Sullivan or Jessica Bennett had to say in print when it was already online.
But also I hate the idea that I'll never be able to read another Newsweek, and soon to follow another newspaper of any kind, on anything other than a backlit screen. But the fact that we spend all our time staring at things that are glowing will have to be the topic of another blog.
I have more to say on this matter... but I'm reluctant to do so after a long day of work and without further forethought. So for now, stay turned.
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